CN111989224A

CN111989224A - Printing apparatus and method for manufacturing printed matter

Info

Publication number: CN111989224A
Application number: CN201980026676.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 石塚崇; 望月保嗣
Original assignee: Sakata Inx Corp
Current assignee: Sakata Inx Corp
Priority date: 2018-04-27
Filing date: 2019-03-22
Publication date: 2020-11-24
Also published as: JP7178406B2; EP3785926A4; JPWO2019208045A1; WO2019208045A1; US11318773B2; US20210245541A1; EP3785926A1

Abstract

The invention aims to obtain a printing device and a method for manufacturing printed matters, which can fully dry and solidify a recording composition after printing while using plasma generated by a remote plasma generating device. Specifically, as a solution, there is provided a printing apparatus including: a printing unit for printing by attaching the recording composition to the surface of a printing medium; a plasma generation unit configured by a plasma generation chamber having an inlet port for introducing a gas flow of a plasma raw material gas into the inside thereof, a gas flow of a plasma-modified gas formed by plasmatizing the plasma raw material gas in the inside thereof, and a plasma discharge port for discharging the gas flow to the outside; and a plasma irradiation unit configured to bring a gas flow containing the plasma-modifying gas and/or the plasma matting gas formed from the plasma-modifying gas discharged from the plasma discharge port into contact with the surface of the printing medium printed by the printing unit.

Description

Printing apparatus and method for manufacturing printed matter

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a method of manufacturing a printed matter.

Background

Printed matter is formed by adhering a recording composition such as ink to the surface of a printing medium such as paper, and fixing the composition by means of impregnation, solidification, evaporation, heat fusion, or the like, thereby forming characters and images. The printed matter after fixing the recording composition can be post-processed and overlapped. However, if the fixing is insufficient, there is a risk that a back print occurs at the time of the overlapping, a scratch occurs on the printing surface at the time of the post-processing, and the device is contaminated at the time of the post-processing. Therefore, a recording composition is required to have high fixability (quick-drying property).

Patent documents

1 and 2 describe the use of an Ultraviolet (UV) -curable recording composition as a recording composition having high fixing properties (quick-drying properties). The UV-curable recording composition comprises: a photopolymerization initiator that generates active species such as radicals and cations by irradiation with ultraviolet rays; and a monomer which is polymerized and cured in the presence of such a reactive species. However, since a photopolymerization initiator or a monomer is used unlike a conventional recording composition, there are problems such as a decrease in printing suitability and an increase in cost.

Patent documents 3 to 8 propose a method of fixing a recording composition by using a material similar to a conventional recording composition and irradiating plasma after printing. The plasma is formed by ionization of a gas existing in the discharge space.

The irradiation manner of the plasma can be classified into a direct type and a remote type. Direct plasma irradiation is a method of directly feeding an irradiation target into a discharge space and performing plasma irradiation. Remote plasma irradiation is a method in which a raw material gas of plasma is made to flow from the outside to the inside of a discharge space, and then the plasmatized gas is made to flow out of the discharge space and brought into contact with an irradiation target.

In the direct type, the irradiation target (printing medium such as paper) may be damaged because it passes through the discharge space. In the case of the remote type, although such a problem does not occur, there is a possibility that fixing of the recording composition is insufficient due to the influence of a decrease in plasma reactivity caused by movement of the gas after the plasmatization, diffusion of the gas after the plasmatization, or the like.

Patent document 3 describes an inkjet printing apparatus in which an inkjet nozzle and a plasma discharge port are provided on the same carriage (carriage), and a surface treatment of a printed material is performed by plasma before ink is discharged from the nozzle. This device does not process the ink after printing. Further, since the carriage has the ink jet nozzle and the plasma ejection port, it is large and heavy. Thus, the apparatus requires a strong motor output to move the carriage, and a configuration for controlling the inertial force generated at the time of the reciprocation of the carriage is required.

Patent document 4 describes an ink fixing device that performs electric discharge between electrodes in the vicinity of a substrate after inkjet printing. The plasma irradiation system of this apparatus is a direct type, and can irradiate plasma immediately after generation of high reactivity, and thus there is a possibility that at least a part of the ink on the substrate can be cured. However, since the processing is performed by generating plasma between electrodes positioned on both sides with the substrate interposed therebetween and by generating direct discharge on the substrate, the print medium may be damaged. Further, discharge may occur at a position between the electrodes where discharge is easy. Therefore, when the width of the base material is increased, it is difficult to perform uniform treatment over the entire width thereof.

Patent document 5 describes a device for fixing a recording agent after transfer by subjecting the recording agent to atmospheric pressure plasma treatment on a printing device using transfer by an ink jet method, patent document 6 describes a device for subjecting a curable composition formed by ink jet printing on a substrate to atmospheric pressure plasma treatment and UV exposure treatment, and patent document 7 describes a device for subjecting a curable composition formed by ink jet printing on a substrate to atmospheric pressure plasma treatment.

Patent document 8 describes that anions generated by making a gas into a plasma state are brought into contact with an oxidative polymerization type ink printed on a medium and are cured. This is to cure the ink by placing the printed medium with ink in a space where plasma is present in an intermittent manner.

In the inventions described in patent documents 5 to 8, the direction of irradiation with atmospheric pressure plasma is unclear. Further, since the atmospheric pressure plasma itself accompanies the air flow, when directly irradiated, the trajectory of the droplet of the ink-jet ink, the temporarily printed dot or outline, or the like is disturbed by the air flow, resulting in impairing the intended vividness.

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2012-102217

Patent document 2: japanese patent No. 4649952 publication

Patent document 3: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2015-199298

Patent document 4: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2007-106105

Patent document 5: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2008-12919

Patent document 6: japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2013-203067

Patent document 7: japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2013-10933

Patent document 8: japanese unexamined patent application publication No. 2007-5 54987

Disclosure of Invention

As a method for drying and fixing the recording composition, a method of irradiating plasma to a printed matter after printing is a new method, and is excellent in that release of unreacted monomers, decomposition products of a photopolymerization initiator, and the like from the printed matter can be suppressed as compared with a method of drying and fixing by ultraviolet irradiation. The drying of the recording composition in this embodiment can be achieved by chemically reacting and curing the components in the recording composition with plasma.

However, this should be avoided in view of the possibility of damaging the print medium when the plasma is irradiated if a plasma of too high energy is used. On the other hand, when plasma having low energy is used, sticking failure may occur due to insufficient reactivity.

The invention aims to provide a printing device and a method for manufacturing printed matter, wherein the printed recording composition can be fully dried and solidified by using plasma generated by a remote plasma generating device.

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for producing a printed matter, by which the shape of a recording composition on a printing medium is not disturbed by a gas flow when the recording composition after printing is dried and cured by the gas flow containing a plasma modifying gas and/or a plasma matting gas.

The present inventors have conducted intensive studies to solve the above problems, and as a result, have completed the following invention.

(1) A printing apparatus is characterized by comprising: a printing unit for printing by attaching the recording composition to the surface of a printing medium; a plasma generation unit configured by a plasma generation chamber having an inlet port for introducing a gas flow of a plasma raw material gas into the inside thereof, a gas flow of a plasma-modified gas formed by plasmatizing the plasma raw material gas in the inside thereof, and a plasma discharge port for discharging the gas flow to the outside; and a plasma irradiation unit configured to bring a gas flow containing the plasma-modifying gas and/or the plasma matting gas formed from the plasma-modifying gas discharged from the plasma discharge port into contact with the surface of the printing medium printed by the printing unit.

(2) The printing apparatus according to (1), wherein the gas flow containing the plasma-modified gas is brought into contact with the surface of the printing medium printed by the printing section.

(3) The printing apparatus according to (1), wherein the gas flow containing the plasma matting gas is brought into contact with the surface of the printing medium printed by the printing section.

(4) The printing apparatus according to (1), wherein the printing portion is a printing portion that performs printing by a printing roller, the plasma generating portion generates atmospheric pressure plasma, and the plasma irradiating portion has a tip that emits the airflow and has a tip that faces a direction in which the airflow is not directly emitted to the printing medium.

(5) The printing apparatus according to (1), wherein the printing portion is a printing portion that performs printing by a printing roller, the plasma generating portion generates atmospheric pressure plasma, and the plasma irradiating portion has a tip end that emits the airflow, has a cover that surrounds the tip end and extends in a width direction of the printing medium, and emits the airflow from the tip end into the cover.

(6) The printing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the plasma generation unit and the plasma irradiation unit are communicated through the plasma discharge port, and are spatially separated from each other except for a portion where the plasma generation unit and the plasma irradiation unit are communicated.

(7) The printing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the plasma irradiation section has a wall surface having an entrance opening and an exit opening of a size necessary for entrance and exit of the printing medium.

(8) The printing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein an opening of the plasma discharge port is directed in a moving direction of the printing medium so that a flow of the plasma-modified gas and/or the plasma-quenching gas is directed in the moving direction of the printing medium.

(9) The printing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein an opening of the plasma discharge port is not directed toward a surface of the printing medium.

(10) The printing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (9), wherein a member that is grounded, negatively charged, or positively charged is disposed on the plasma irradiation section on the opposite side of the printing medium as viewed from the plasma discharge port.

(11) The printing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (10), further comprising a plasma irradiation unit that directly emits a gas flow containing the plasma-modified gas and/or the plasma-matting gas formed therefrom onto the moving printing medium, upstream of the printing unit that prints on the moving printing medium by the printing roller.

(12) A method for manufacturing a printed matter, comprising: a printing step of printing by attaching a recording composition to a surface of a printing medium, the recording composition having a property of being cured when brought into contact with a plasma modifying gas and/or a plasma matting gas formed from the plasma modifying gas; and a drying step of bringing a gas flow of a plasma modifying gas and/or a plasma matting gas into contact with the surface of the printing medium to fix the recording composition present on the surface of the printing medium, wherein a plasma generation chamber communicating with and separated from a space through which the printing medium passes through a plasma discharge port is provided with a gas flow from the inlet port to the plasma discharge port by introducing a plasma raw material gas into the plasma generation chamber from an inlet port different from the plasma discharge port, and a plasma modifying gas is generated by plasmatizing the gas flow in the plasma generation chamber, and the gas flow containing the plasma modifying gas and/or the plasma matting gas formed therefrom and the plasma modifying gas are discharged from the plasma discharge port to the space through which the printing medium passes through The surfaces of the printed media in the printing process are in contact.

(13) The method for producing a printed matter according to (12), wherein a space through which the printing medium passes is covered with a wall surface, the wall surface has an inlet opening and an outlet opening having a size necessary for entrance and exit of the printing medium, and a gas flow containing the plasma modifying gas and/or the plasma matting gas flows in at least one direction of the inlet opening and the outlet opening.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus and a method for manufacturing a printed matter, which can sufficiently dry and cure a printed recording composition using plasma generated by a remote plasma generation apparatus.

Further, according to the present invention, there can be provided an apparatus and a method for producing a printed matter, which are capable of preventing the shape of a recording composition on a recording medium from being disturbed by a gas flow when the recording composition after printing is dried and cured by the gas flow containing a plasma modifying gas and/or a plasma matting gas.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a printing apparatus of the present invention in which a gas flow containing a plasma-modifying gas is brought into contact with the surface of a printing medium.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a printing apparatus of the present invention in which a gas flow containing a plasma matting gas is brought into contact with the surface of a printing medium.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the printing apparatus of the present invention in which a gas flow containing a plasma-modifying gas and/or a plasma-matting gas is not directly ejected onto the surface of a printing medium.

Fig. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing an example of the plasma generating section 4.

Fig. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing an example of the plasma generating section 4.

Fig. 6 is a side cross-sectional view showing an example of the plasma generating section 4.

Fig. 7 is a front view of the plasma irradiation part 1.

Fig. 8 is a rear view of the plasma irradiation part 1.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view schematically showing the plasma irradiation part 1.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a general plasma processing apparatus.

Description of the symbols

1-a plasma irradiation section; 1A-an upstream side plasma irradiating section; 1B-a downstream plasma irradiating section; 11-a frame body; 112 plasma discharge port; 12-wall surface; 13-an inlet opening; 14-an outlet opening; 15- (through which the print medium 3 passes); 2-a printing section; 21-a printing roll; 3-a print medium; 4-a plasma generating section; 41-an insulator; 421-an electrode; 422-coil; 43-an introduction port; 431-an introducer tube; 44-top end; 45-a plasma generation chamber; 46-a nozzle; 47-cover; 51-a transport roller; 61-supporting rolls; 62-supporting rollers; 7-a power supply; a P-plasma modifying gas; g1-plasma feed gas; g2-a gas stream comprising a plasma modifying gas and/or a plasma matting gas formed therefrom.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the printing apparatus of the present invention and an embodiment of the method of manufacturing a printed matter of the present invention will be described.

As the plasma in the present invention, a scientifically defined plasma can be used without limitation. The plasma may be a high-energy gas plasma containing charged particles generated by ionization, or a plasma in which the number of ions and electrons is the same or substantially the same and which is electrically neutral or substantially neutral. The plasma can be generated by various methods such as discharge between electrodes separated from each other.

The plasma modifying gas in the present invention means a gas containing the aforementioned plasma. The plasma contained in the plasma modifying gas is in a high energy state accompanied by luminescence immediately after the generation. Therefore, a color corresponding to the kind of the plasma source gas can be emitted, and various chemical reactions can be induced.

The plasma extinction gas in the present invention is formed of the plasma-modified gas, and means that the plasma in the plasma-modified gas loses energy and is extinguished to become invisible. For example, when the plasma is moved by the gas flow over a long distance, the plasma contained in the plasma modifying gas gradually loses energy and is extinguished, and finally becomes invisible. Further, for example, energy is extracted from plasma in the light emission contained in the plasma modifying gas by operation or the like, and the plasma is extinguished to be invisible.

In the present specification, the gas flow containing the plasma modifying gas and/or the plasma matting gas is also referred to simply as "gas flow G2".

(printing apparatus)

A printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a printing unit 2 for printing by attaching a recording composition to the surface of a printing medium 3; a plasma generation unit 4 configured by a plasma generation chamber 45, the plasma generation chamber 45 including an introduction port 43 for introducing a gas flow of a plasma raw material gas G1 into the inside thereof, and a plasma discharge port 112 for discharging the gas flow to the outside, the plasma generation chamber 45 being configured to plasmatize the plasma raw material gas in the inside thereof to form a gas flow containing a plasma-modified gas P; and a plasma irradiation unit 1 for bringing a gas flow G2 containing the plasma-modifying gas P and/or the plasma-matting gas formed therefrom discharged from the plasma discharge port 112 into contact with the surface of the printing medium 3 printed by the printing unit 2.

The printing medium 3 printed by the printing unit 2 passes through the inlet opening 13, which is the inlet of the plasma irradiation unit 1, is conveyed to the plasma irradiation unit 1, and further comes into contact with the air flow G2. When the recording composition comes into contact with the air stream G2, the recording composition present on the surface of the print medium 3 is cured and fixed to the surface of the print medium 3. The print medium 3 that has contacted the air flow G2 passes through the outlet opening 14 that is the outlet of the plasma irradiation unit 1, and is conveyed to the outside of the apparatus. The print medium 3 conveyed to the outside of the apparatus is subjected to necessary processing such as folding and cutting, and becomes a printed product such as a book or a poster.

(printing medium)

Examples of the print medium 3 include various printable media such as paper such as coated paper and plain paper, various resin films, metal sheets, and laminated films having a metal layer or a metal compound layer.

(printing part)

The printing unit 2 is a device for printing the transported print medium 3 using the recording composition. The printing unit 2 includes a printer. Further, the printer itself may be the printing section 2. As such a printer, a known printer may be used, and examples thereof include a lithographic printer, a flexographic printer, a gravure printer, an inkjet printer, and an electrophotographic apparatus. Each of the printers may be a sheet-type printer that feeds the print medium sheet by sheet, or a rotary-type printer that uses continuous winding of the print medium.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the printing unit 2 may be a printing unit of a system (known printing system such as a flat plate, a relief plate, or a gravure plate) in which a recording composition on a plate or a transfer roller is transferred onto the printing medium 3.

Further, an atmospheric pressure plasma irradiation nozzle capable of irradiating a recording composition on the plate or the transfer roller with a weak plasma before the composition is transferred onto the printing medium 3 may be provided at a position facing the surface of the plate or the transfer roller. In this case, when plasma treatment is performed after printing, the inside of the recording composition can be reliably cured.

(composition for recording)

As the composition for recording, a composition having a property of being cured when it is brought into contact with the air stream G2 can be used. As the recording composition, a recording composition suitable for the printer included in the printing section 2 may be selected. For example, in the case of a lithographic printing press, an ink for sheet-fed offset printing, an ink for rotary offset printing, an ink for newspaper printing, and the like can be used. The recording composition may be a recording composition such as a flexographic printing ink in the case of a flexographic printing machine, a gravure printing ink in the case of an intaglio printing machine, an inkjet printing ink in the case of an inkjet printing machine, or an electrostatic image developing toner composition (powder (toner composition) that adheres to an electrostatic image formed on a photosensitive drum and forms an image) in the case of an electrophotographic apparatus. As the recording composition, a known recording composition containing 1 or more selected from a pigment component, a binder component, a solvent component and the like can be used. The recording composition used may be transparent, 1-color or multicolor.

(plasma generating section)

The plasma generating section 4 includes at least: a plasma generation chamber 45 for generating plasma; an insulator 41 forming a plasma generation chamber 45; an inlet 43 for introducing the plasma raw material gas G1 into the plasma generation chamber 45; a unit for forming an electric field in the plasma generation chamber 45 and discharging it; and a plasma discharge port 112 for discharging the plasma modified gas P containing the plasma generated in the plasma generation chamber 45 from the plasma generation chamber 45.

When power is supplied to a unit for forming an electric field in the plasma generation chamber 45 and discharging the electric field, a discharge start voltage is exceeded, and plasma is generated in the plasma generation chamber 45. The plasma raw material gas G1 is blown into the plasma generation chamber 45 from the inlet 43, and forms a gas flow which passes through the plasma generation chamber 45 from the inlet 43 and is directed to the outside from the plasma discharge port 112. The plasma raw material gas G1 is plasmatized when passing through the plasma generation chamber 45, and is discharged from the plasma discharge port 112 as a gas flow containing the plasma-modified gas P.

The internal space 15 through which the print medium 3 passes and the plasma generation chamber 45 (the inside of the plasma generation unit 4) communicate with each other through the plasma discharge port 112, and are spatially separated from each other except for the portions that communicate with each other. Therefore, the discharge for generating the plasma is performed only inside the plasma generation chamber 45 (plasma generation portion 4), and thus the discharge in the internal space 15 through which the print medium 3 passes can be suppressed. Therefore, since the discharge for generating the plasma to the printing medium 3 is suppressed, the damage to the printing medium 3 can be suppressed.

The plasma generating section 4 is exemplified as a remote type plasma generating section that generates plasma in a pressure range of 0.1 to 10 atmospheres, preferably 0.7 to 1.5 atmospheres. The temperature at which the plasma is generated is not particularly limited, but is preferably low (100 ℃ or lower, preferably 50 ℃ or lower) in view of handling properties and the like.

The plasma generation chamber 45 may also be a space formed by the insulator 41. As the insulator 41 forming the plasma generation chamber 45, for example, a dielectric material such as glass or ceramic can be used. In addition, a dielectric having a dielectric constant of 2000 or less, such as barium titanate, silicon oxide, aluminum nitride, silicon nitride, or silicon carbide, may be used.

The shape of the insulator 41 forming the plasma generation chamber 45 is not particularly limited, and may be any shape such as a cylindrical shape, a spherical shape, and a box shape. The insulator 41 forming the plasma generation chamber 45 may be formed in a nozzle shape that becomes thinner as it gets closer to the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112).

For example, as one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the plasma generation chamber 45 may be formed by a frame 11 having an inlet 43 and a tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112). Further, the plasma generation chamber 45 formed by the insulator 41 may be protected by covering the housing 11.

For example, as one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 4 and 5, a hole provided in the bottom surface of the housing 11 may be used as the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112).

The plasma raw material gas G1 is introduced into the plasma generation chamber 45 of the plasma generation part 4 through the introduction port 43 or the introduction pipe 431 connected thereto. The plasma source gas G1 may be, for example, at least 1 gas selected from air, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, water vapor, and the like, but is not particularly limited. Among them, 1 or more gases selected from air, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide are preferable.

The means for generating an electric field in the plasma generation chamber 45 and discharging the electric field is not particularly limited, and any known means may be used.

For example, as one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 4, a mode may be used in which a pair of

electrodes

421, 421 having different polarities from each other are formed on the outer surface or the inner surface of the housing 11 (insulator 41) so as to be spaced apart from each other and face each other, and the

respective electrodes

421, 421 are connected to the power supply 7. The pair of

electrodes

421 and 421 may be provided so as to face each other in the insulator 41 forming the plasma generating portion 4. Further, a pair of

electrodes

421 and 421 having a layer such as the insulator 41 formed on the surface thereof may be provided. The distance between the discharge electrodes is not particularly limited, and may be optimized in consideration of voltage, for example, about 0.5 to 5.0 mm. When the electrode is used for discharge, gas flow G2 with a high plasma density can be formed.

As an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 5, a configuration may be employed in which a coil 422 is provided on the outer periphery or inner periphery of the housing 11 (insulator 41), an electrode core (not shown in fig. 5) is provided in the housing, and the coil 422 and the electrode core are connected to the power supply 7. The coil interval, the coil length, the coil diameter, the wire diameter, the electrode core-coil interval, the electrode core shape, and the like are not particularly limited, and can be optimized as appropriate in consideration of the voltage and the like. For example, when the discharge is performed using the coil provided on the outer or inner periphery of the elongated tubular frame 11 from the introduction port 43 to the tip 44 and the corresponding electrode core, the discharge density is relatively low, but the discharge volume through which the gas passes can be increased, and a large amount of plasma can be generated. Therefore, the distance between the plasma generation chamber 45 (the portion where the coil is provided, that is, the discharge portion) or the plasma discharge port 112 and the printing medium 3 can be largely partitioned, and hence the design of the printing apparatus is facilitated.

An electric field such as a high frequency, a pulse wave, or a microwave is applied to the electrode or the coil to generate plasma. The generated plasma (atmospheric pressure plasma) contains all the gases in which the raw material gas is modified by plasmatization.

In the present invention, in order to shorten the time required for the rise and fall of the electric field (the rise and fall means continuous increase or decrease of voltage), it is preferable to apply a pulse wave. The time required for the rise and fall of the electric field is 10. mu.s or less, preferably 50ns to 5. mu.s.

The electric field intensity generated in the plasma generating section 4 is not particularly limited. May be 1kV/cm or more, preferably 20kV/cm or more. Further, it may be 1000kV/cm or less, preferably 300kV/cm or less. The frequency at which the electric field is applied by the pulse wave is not particularly limited. Preferably 0.5kHz or more, and may be about 10 to 20MHz or about 50 to 150 MHz. The electric power may be 40W/cm or less, preferably 30W/cm or less.

In order to obtain a stable plasma discharge, the electrode 421 or the coil 422 may be configured not to be in direct contact with the plasma raw material gas G1. Therefore, an insulating coating may be provided on the surface of the electrode 421 or the coil 422 by a known means such as coating. Examples of such an insulating coating include vitreous materials such as quartz and alumina, and ceramic materials.

(plasma irradiating section)

The plasma irradiation section 1 brings the air flow G2 ejected from the tip 44 into contact with the surface of the print medium 3 conveyed from the printing section 2. The plasma irradiating section 1 is provided downstream of the printing section 2 in the moving direction of the printing medium 3. The recording composition immediately after printing is adhered to the surface of the printing medium 3 conveyed from the printing unit 2, and the recording composition is brought into contact with the air stream G2, dried, cured, and fixed to the surface of the printing medium 3.

The plasma irradiating section 1 communicates with the plasma generating chamber 45 of the plasma generating section 4 through the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112), but is spatially separated from each other in other portions.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the plasma irradiation unit 1 includes at least: a tip 44 for discharging a gas flow G2 discharged from the plasma discharge port 112; an internal space 15 communicating with the plasma discharge port 112 for bringing the recording composition on the printing medium 3 into contact with the gas flow G2; and a wall surface 12 for separating the internal space 15 from the outside.

As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the tip 44 may be substantially the same as the plasma discharge port 112. The tip 44 may be provided at a position away from the plasma discharge port 112 by the frame 11. The tip 44 may be formed by connecting a member such as a nozzle or a hose to the plasma discharge port 112.

As one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the plasma irradiating section 1 has a plasma generating section 4 provided through the wall surface 12 from above toward the internal space 15, and is configured to pass the printing medium 3 directly below the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112). The plasma generator 4 may be provided so as to penetrate the wall surface 12, or may be provided so as to be accommodated in an internal space 15 surrounded by the wall surface 12.

The distance between the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) and the surface of the print medium 3 is, for example, 0.1mm to 20.0 m.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 1, the printing medium 3 passes near the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) so as to be in contact with the gas flow containing the plasma modified gas P in a light-emitting state. Although the plasma generation conditions vary, the plasma may pass through the plasma discharge port 112 within 10mm, preferably within 5mm, for example.

As one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 2, the printing medium 3 passes through a position largely apart from the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) so as to be in contact with a gas flow containing a plasma extinction gas formed by extinction of plasma in a light-emitting state. Although the plasma generation conditions vary, the plasma may pass through the plasma discharge port 112 more than 10 mm. In this case, a nozzle, a hose, or the like may be connected to the plasma discharge port 112. The distance between the tip of the member provided on the plasma discharge port 112 and the print medium 3 may be any distance, and is preferably within 10mm in order to prevent diffusion. When the discharge unit is a coil that discharges the discharge during plasma generation, the member provided in the plasma discharge port 112 may be elongated, and the distance between the plasma generation chamber 45 (discharge portion) or the plasma discharge port 112 and the printing medium 3 may be increased.

The transport speed of the print medium 3 is not particularly limited, but may be 0.01m/s or more, preferably 0.01 to 10 m/s.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) may be formed in a tapered nozzle shape, a slit shape, a long nozzle shape, a shower shape having a large number of holes, or the like. The tip 44 may be formed by attaching 1 or more members, such as a tapered nozzle shape, a slit shape, a long nozzle shape, a shower shape having a plurality of holes provided at arbitrary intervals, to the plasma discharge port 112.

As an embodiment of the present invention, a plasma generating portion 4 having a plurality of plasma discharge ports 112 may be used, and the plasma irradiating portion 1 may be formed such that the plurality of plasma discharge ports 112 are arranged in at least 1 row along the width direction of the printing medium 3. Further, the plasma irradiating section 1 may be formed by using 1 or more plasma generating sections 4 having 1 or more plasma discharge ports 112 and arranged in at least 1 row along the width direction of the printing medium 3. For example, as shown in fig. 7 to 9, 3 plasma generating units 4 may be arranged in 1 row along the width direction of the print medium 3.

When a plurality of tips 44 (plasma discharge ports 112) are arranged in the width direction and/or the transport direction of the print medium 3, the gas flow G2 can be uniformly brought into contact with the surface of the print medium 3. In this case, the shape of each tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) may be a cylindrical shape, a slit shape (narrow rectangular parallelepiped shape) that is long in the width direction of the print medium 3 (for example, approximately the same length as the width direction of the print medium 3), a slit shape in which the slit is a V-shape, an S-shape, a wave shape, or the like, a shower shape in which a plurality of holes are provided at arbitrary intervals, or the like. In either case, the air flow G2 is preferably configured to be ejected uniformly in the width direction of the print medium.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) of the plasma irradiation part 1 may be formed to be a thin hole so that the gas flow G2 is strongly discharged from the hole.

As an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 3, the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) of the plasma irradiation part 1 (downstream side plasma irradiation part 1B) may be formed in a long nozzle shape (nozzle 46). The tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) itself may be processed to be the nozzle 46, or an extended nozzle (nozzle 46) may be provided on the plasma discharge port 112. This prevents the air flow G2 from diffusing, and further increases the density of the plasma and/or the matte plasma that comes into contact with the recording composition on the surface of the print medium 3.

As an embodiment of the present invention, the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) of the plasma irradiation part 1 may be configured in a shower head shape in which a plurality of holes are formed. In this case, the air flow G2 can be dispersed over a wider range so that the air flow G2 can contact the print medium 3 over a wider area. In addition, when the plasma is formed into a shower head shape, extinction by plasma tends to be fast. Further, since a large amount of the gas flow G2 is required when the shower head is formed, it is preferable to generate plasma by electric discharge using a coil.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the discharge direction of the gas flow G2 can be adjusted by directing the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) of the plasma irradiation part 1 in an arbitrary direction. For example, the direction of conveyance of the print medium 3, the direction opposite to the direction of conveyance of the print medium 3, the direction intersecting the direction of conveyance of the print medium 3 (the width direction of the print medium 3), the direction of the surface of the print medium 3, and the direction of the surface of the print medium 3 may be any direction. For example, in the printing apparatus shown in fig. 1, 2, and 6, the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) of the plasma irradiation section 1 is directed to discharge the gas flow G2 directly toward the printing medium 3. For example, in the printing apparatus shown in fig. 3, the air flow G2 is directed in a direction not directly toward the print medium 3. For example, when the tip 44 is formed in a slit shape, the tip 44 may be formed by attaching 1 or more members to the tip 44 (the plasma discharge port 112) of the plasma irradiation unit 1 or the plasma discharge port 112, and the longitudinal direction of the slit may be a direction intersecting the width direction of the print medium 3 (the longitudinal direction of the slit may coincide with the width direction of the print medium 3). The longitudinal direction of the slit may be a direction not intersecting the width direction of the print medium 3.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the direction of the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) of the plasma irradiation unit 1 may be set so as not to face the direction of the recording composition on the moving printing medium 3. This prevents the air flow G2 from being directly blown onto the recording composition on the print medium 3, thereby preventing each dot or outline of the recording composition before drying and curing on the print medium 3 from being enlarged. Further, by directing the direction of the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) of the plasma irradiating section 1 toward the direction in which the printing medium 3 moves or the direction away from the printing medium 3, the recording composition before drying and curing on the printing medium 3 can be brought into contact with the air flow G2 for a long time together with the accompanying air flow generated from the moving printing medium 3. For example, when the air flow G2 is made to flow from the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) toward the conveyance direction of the print medium 3, the flow velocity of the air flow G2 may be about 0.8 to 1.2 times, preferably about 0.9 to 1.1 times, the conveyance velocity of the print medium 3. Accordingly, the air flow G2 in the vicinity of the recording composition before drying and curing on the print medium 3 has substantially no flow velocity with respect to the recording composition, and thus the recording composition before drying and curing can be dried and cured in a state where the printed outline is clear without shaking.

As an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the plasma irradiation section 1 may include an inlet opening 13 and an outlet opening 14 having a size necessary for the entrance and exit of the print medium 3, and may include a wall surface 12, and the wall surface 12 may be configured such that the gas flow G2 flows toward the inlet opening 13 and/or the outlet opening 14. Thus, the air flow G2 fills the space 15 through which the print medium 3 passes while directly contacting the recording composition on the print medium 3. The recording composition on the print medium 3 is dried and cured not only by direct contact with the air stream G2 but also by being left for a long time in a space filled with the air stream G2, drying and curing can be promoted. With such a configuration, the drying and curing properties often insufficient when using remote plasma can be compensated for, and thus the recording composition can be sufficiently dried and cured. The contact time of the air stream G2 with the recording composition on the print medium 3 is preferably at least 0.01 second, and is preferably configured to be secured for about 0.05 to 30 seconds.

The "size necessary for the entrance and exit of the print medium 3" may include the size of the print medium 3, the size of a mechanism for conveying the print medium 3, and a gap for preventing paper jam. When the gap is large, there is a possibility that the air flow G2 is lost. Therefore, the size of the inlet opening 13 and the outlet opening 14 is the minimum passage cross-sectional area required for the entrance and exit of the print medium 3, so that the contact with the air flow G2 can be secured to the maximum.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the plasma irradiation section 1 may be provided with the wall surface 12 so as to form a passage extending from the entrance opening 13 to the exit opening 14 through the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) by disposing the entrance opening 13 and the exit opening 14 corresponding to the entrance and exit of the printing medium 3 at a distance from the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) as far as possible. Although the height of the passage is not particularly limited, it may be as low as not to obstruct the conveyance of the print medium 3 except near the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112). The length between the inlet opening 13 and the outlet opening 14 (the length of the channel) is not particularly limited, but may be about 5cm to 10 m.

The tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) is spatially continuous with the inlet opening 13 and the outlet opening 14, but is isolated from the outside by the wall surface 12. Thus, the gas flow G2 emitted from the tip 44 (plasma emission port 112) can flow in the passage toward the inlet opening 13 and/or the outlet opening 14. Since the printed printing medium 3 is in contact with the air stream G2 for a long period of time, drying and curing of the recording composition present on the surface of the printing medium 3 can be further promoted.

As one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 3, a cover 47 surrounding the tip 44 of the plasma irradiation part 1 (the tip 44 of the downstream side plasma irradiation part 1B) may be provided. The cover 47 may be formed in any shape, may extend in the width direction of the print medium, or may be the same as the wall surface 12. The hood 47 prevents the gas flow G2 from diffusing, and the plasma density of plasma and/or extinction in the atmosphere in the hood 47 can be further increased. Further, by providing the hood 47, the air flow G2 can be contacted, but the air flow G2 is not directly discharged toward the recording composition before drying and curing on the print medium 3. For example, the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) may be directed upward, and the gas flow G2 discharged from the tip may be retained in the cover 47, thereby increasing the plasma density of the plasma and/or the matte plasma in the cover 47 and facilitating contact with the recording composition in a dried or cured state on the printing medium 3.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover 47 (wall surface 12) can surround the tip 44 of the plasma irradiation part 1 (the tip 44 of the downstream-side plasma irradiation part 1B) and the recording composition before drying and curing on the printing medium 3. The shape of the cover (wall surface 12) is not particularly limited as long as the dissipation of the air flow G2 can be prevented and the drying of the printing medium 3 and the drying and curing of the recording composition before curing can be promoted by the air flow G2.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a support roller 62 for supporting the printing medium 3 may be provided on the opposite side of the plasma irradiation section 1 with respect to the printing medium 3. The support roller 62 may be made of any material, but is preferably made of a conductive material. The support roller 62 may be connected to the anode side or the cathode side of the dc power supply to be charged positively or negatively, and may be directly connected to a ground line. When the support roller 62 is connected to a ground line (ground) or charged with a polarity opposite to the polarity of the plasma particles, the plasma and/or the plasma extinction in the plasma modified gas P discharged from the plasma discharge port 112 is directed toward and electrically attracted to the support roller 62. As a result, a portion having a high plasma density of plasma and/or extinction is generated on the surface side of the printing medium 3 in contact with the backup roller 62, and the drying and curing treatment of the recording composition on the printing medium 3 can be performed more efficiently.

Further, as an embodiment of the present invention, a member of an arbitrary shape or structure may be provided instead of the support roller 62. Examples of the member include a sheet-like or plate-like member, a known suction holding member used for the printing medium 3, and an electrostatic chuck. As the member, a member whose surface is a conductor can be used, and the same effect as that obtained when the support roller 62 made of a conductive material is used can be obtained.

Although one embodiment of the printing apparatus and the method of manufacturing a printed matter according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

As one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 3, the plasma irradiating section 1 may be provided at least 2 positions on the upstream side and the downstream side in the moving direction of the printing medium 3 with respect to the printing section 2 (printing roller 21). In fig. 3, an upstream plasma irradiation portion 1A and a downstream plasma irradiation portion 1B are provided upstream of the printing roller 21 and downstream of the printing roller 21, respectively.

The upstream plasma irradiating section 1A may be any as long as the gas flow G2 is brought into contact with the print medium 3 before printing. Preferably, the air flow G2 is directly discharged to the print medium 3 before printing.

This makes it possible to perform plasma treatment on the surface of the print medium 3 before printing, thereby improving the adhesion to the recording composition.

The plasma and/or the matte plasma remains on the surface of the print medium 3 before printing for at least several seconds. The plasma remaining on the surface of the print medium 3 further dries and cures the recording composition printed on the surface of the print medium 3 in the inside and/or at the interface with the print medium 3.

The upstream plasma irradiation section 1A may be configured by using a known plasma processing apparatus for performing plasma processing by ejecting (atmospheric pressure) plasma to a molded body such as a film. Examples thereof include RT series and APT series manufactured by Water chemical industries, suitable plasma treatment apparatuses provided by Daihu materials, and the like, and plasma apparatuses described in Japanese patent application laid-open Nos. 2004-207145, 11-260597, and 3-219082.

As shown in fig. 10, for example, the upstream side plasma irradiating section 1A may be constituted by a plasma processing apparatus constituted by the plasma irradiating section 1, an inlet pipe 431 (inlet 43) for supplying plasma to the plasma irradiating section 1 in a remote manner, a transport roller 5 for transporting a printing medium 3 such as a resin sheet, and the like.

The upstream plasma irradiation unit 1A may be, for example, the same as the apparatus shown in fig. 6, and may pass the plasma raw material gas G1 between the pair of electrodes 421 covered with the insulator 41, and when passing through, plasmatize the plasma raw material gas G1 by a voltage applied between the electrodes. In fig. 3, the gas flow containing the plasma modifying gas P contacts the surface of the printing medium 3 through the plasma discharge port 112. Although the plasma discharge port 112 is directed obliquely downward in fig. 3, it may be directed in any direction such as directly downward.

As one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 3, a support roller 61 for supporting the printing medium 3 may be provided on the opposite side of the printing medium 3 from the upstream-side plasma irradiating section 1A. Although the support roller 61 may be made of any material, it is preferably made of a conductive material. For example, as shown in fig. 3, the support roller 61 may be connected to the anode side or the cathode side of the dc power supply to be charged positively or negatively, and may be directly connected to the ground line. When the support roller 61 is connected to a ground line (ground) or charged with electricity having a polarity opposite to the polarity of the plasma particles, the plasma and/or the plasma extinction in the plasma-modified gas P discharged from the plasma discharge port 112 is directed toward and attracted to the support roller 61. As a result, a portion having a high plasma density of plasma and/or extinction is generated on the surface side of the printing medium 3 in contact with the backup roller 61, and the surface treatment of the printing medium 3 and the like can be efficiently performed.

In addition, as an embodiment of the present invention, a member having an arbitrary shape or structure may be provided instead of the support roller 61. Examples of the member include a sheet-like or plate-like member, a known suction holding member used for the printing medium 3, and an electrostatic chuck. When a member having a conductive surface is used as the member, the same effect as that obtained when the support roller 61 made of a conductive material is used can be obtained.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) of the upstream side plasma irradiation part 1A may be formed in a long nozzle shape (nozzle 46), the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) itself may be processed to form the nozzle 46, and an extension nozzle (nozzle 46) may be provided in the plasma discharge port 112. This prevents the gas flow G2 from diffusing, and the gas flow G2, in which the density of plasma and/or matte plasma is adjusted, can be brought into contact with the surface of the printing roller 21. The portion of the recording composition on the printing roll 21 which becomes the inside of the coating film of the recording composition after printing is dried and cured by the air flow G2 to some extent in advance. After the recording composition dried and cured to some extent is transferred onto the print medium 3, it is dried and cured more reliably by the subsequent drying and curing with the air stream G2.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the tip 44 (plasma discharge port 112) of the upstream plasma irradiating section 1A may be formed as a shower head-like tip having a plurality of holes formed therein. In this case, the air stream G2 can be efficiently brought into contact with the printing medium 3 before printing and/or the recording composition on the printing roll over a wide range.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a local exhaust device may be provided in the vicinity of at least one of the inlet opening 13 and the outlet opening 14 of the plasma irradiation part 1. The gas flow G2 may contain chemicals such as ozone, which are undesirable to be discharged into the working environment. By providing the local exhaust device, it is possible to prevent such chemical substances from being released into the working environment. When only one local exhaust device is provided, G2 does not flow to the opening on the non-provided side, but in the present invention, it is only necessary to have the air flow G2 flowing in at least one direction of the inlet opening 13 and the outlet opening 14.

As an embodiment of the present invention, a unit may be provided which recovers the gas flow G2 and reuses at least a part thereof as the plasma raw material gas G1. For example, a configuration of a circulation circuit that guides the gas flow G2 to the introduction port 43 again, and a configuration that recovers the gas flow G2 and uses the temporarily stored gas as the plasma raw material gas G1 may be provided. In this case, a blower (blower) or a suction machine may be provided to adjust the circulation speed of the gas. In addition, moisture or impurities in the circulated gas may be removed by various adsorption units such as a moisture absorption unit.

(method of manufacturing printed matter)

The method for producing a printed matter of the present invention includes: a printing step of printing by attaching a recording composition having a property of being cured when being brought into contact with a gas flow (gas flow G2) containing a plasma modifying gas and/or a plasma matting gas formed therefrom, to the surface of the printing medium 3; and a drying step of bringing the air stream G2 into contact with the surface of the printing medium 3 having undergone the printing step, so as to fix the recording composition present on the surface of the printing medium 3. The method for producing a printed matter of the present invention can be preferably realized by using the printing apparatus of the present invention. In the following description, the description of one embodiment of the above (printing apparatus) will be used. Hereinafter, each step will be explained.

(printing Process)

The printing step is a step of printing by attaching a recording composition having a property of being cured when it comes into contact with the air flow G2 to the surface of the printing medium 3.

The printing medium, the recording composition, and the printing method are not particularly limited, but for example, the printing medium 3, the recording composition, and the printing method described above (printing apparatus) can be used.

The printing medium 3 having undergone the printing process is subjected to a drying process.

For example, when the printing apparatus of the present invention is used as a printing apparatus, the printing medium 3 having undergone the printing process by the printing section 2 is transported to the plasma irradiation section 1 by a transport device (for example, a transport roller 5) and subjected to a drying process.

(drying Process)

The drying step is a step of bringing the air stream G2 into contact with the surface of the printing medium 3 having undergone the printing step to fix the recording composition present on the surface of the printing medium 3. Since the recording composition has a property of being cured when it comes into contact with the air stream G2, it is dried, cured and fixed to the surface of the print medium 3 in this step. This makes it possible to form a non-tacky (non-tacky) printed matter.

The air flow G2 is not particularly limited, but may be the same as the air flow G2 mentioned in the above (printing apparatus), for example.

Although the method and apparatus for generating the air flow G2 are not particularly limited, for example, the methods and apparatuses mentioned above (printing apparatus) can be used.

Although the method and apparatus for bringing the air stream G2 into contact with the print medium 3 are not particularly limited, for example, the methods and apparatuses mentioned above (printing apparatus) can be used.

Examples

The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to examples below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, "%" means "% by mass" and "part" means "part by mass".

(preparation of varnish)

A4-neck flask equipped with a cooling tube, a thermometer, and a stirrer was charged with 40.5 parts by weight-average molecular weight of 5 to 6 million of a rosin-modified phenol resin (Hariphenol P-160, manufactured by Harima chemical Co., Ltd.) and 58.9 parts by weight of soybean oil, the temperature was raised to 210 ℃ to dissolve the resin by maintaining the same temperature for 40 minutes, and then 0.6 part by weight of ethyl Aluminum diisopropyl acetoacetate (ALCH, manufactured by Kawakawa Kagaku Co., Ltd.) was charged and then heated at 170 ℃ for 50 minutes to obtain a varnish.

(preparation of ink composition)

Ink compositions of inks 1 to 5 were prepared by mixing the respective raw materials according to the formulation shown in table 1 and kneading the mixture by using a three-roll mill. The blending amounts of the respective components shown in table 1 are parts by mass. In table 1, "coloring material" is phthalocyanine of a coloring pigment.

(Table 1)

	Ink 1	Ink 2	Ink 3	Ink 4	Ink 5
						Varnish	58	58	58	58	58
Colorant	17	17	17	17	17
						Soybean oil	20	15	10	5	-
Castor oil	5	10	15	20	25
						Total up to	100	100	100	100	100

(curing test)

The ink compositions of inks 1 to 5 were evaluated for curability upon plasma irradiation using the plasma irradiation unit 1 shown in fig. 1. First, 0.1cc of a sample of the ink composition was taken, color developed on a PP (polypropylene) film (product name: Polysame PC-8162, manufactured by waterlogging molding industries, inc.) using an RI developing machine (2-stage developing roll, manufactured by mitsunobu corporation), and then the color developed material was passed from the inlet opening 13 toward the outlet opening 14 of the plasma irradiation section 1 at a transport speed of 0.5 m/sec. In this case, the plasma source gas was air (flow rate: 5L/min), the diameter of the plasma discharge port was 1mm, and the distance between the plasma discharge port 112 and the color former was 4 mm. When the surface of each color developing material was wiped with absorbent cotton, the ink composition was not adhered to the absorbent cotton in any of the ink compositions, and it was confirmed that the ink composition was cured (fixed).

Claims

1. A printing apparatus is characterized by comprising:

a printing unit for printing by attaching the recording composition to the surface of a printing medium;

a plasma generation unit configured by a plasma generation chamber having an inlet port for introducing a gas flow of a plasma raw material gas into the inside thereof, a gas flow of a plasma-modified gas formed by plasmatizing the plasma raw material gas in the inside thereof, and a plasma discharge port for discharging the gas flow to the outside;

And a plasma irradiation unit configured to bring a gas flow containing the plasma-modifying gas and/or the plasma matting gas formed from the plasma-modifying gas discharged from the plasma discharge port into contact with the surface of the printing medium printed by the printing unit.

2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas flow containing the plasma-modified gas is brought into contact with the surface of the printing medium printed by the printing section.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas flow containing the plasma matting gas is brought into contact with the surface of the printing medium printed by the printing section.

4. Printing device according to claim 1,

the printing portion is a printing portion for printing by a printing roller,

the plasma generating section generates an atmospheric pressure plasma,

the plasma irradiation unit has a tip end that emits the gas flow, and has a tip end that faces a direction in which the gas flow is not directly emitted to the printing medium.

5. Printing device according to claim 1,

the printing portion is a printing portion for printing by a printing roller,

the plasma generating section generates an atmospheric pressure plasma,

The plasma irradiation unit has a tip end for emitting the gas flow, and a cover extending in a width direction of the printing medium so as to surround the tip end, and emits the gas flow from the tip end into the cover.

6. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plasma generating section and the plasma irradiating section are communicated through the plasma discharge port, and are spatially disposed apart from each other except for the communicated portion.

7. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plasma irradiation section has a wall surface having an entrance opening and an exit opening of a size necessary for the entrance and exit of the printing medium.

8. A printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an opening of said plasma discharge port is directed in a moving direction of the printing medium so that a flow of said plasma modifying gas and/or said plasma matting gas is directed in the moving direction of the printing medium.

9. A printing apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein an opening of said plasma discharge port is not directed toward a surface of the printing medium.

10. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a member grounded, negatively charged or positively charged is disposed on the plasma irradiation section on the opposite side of the printing medium as viewed from the plasma discharge port.

11. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a plasma irradiation unit for directly emitting a gas flow containing the plasma modifying gas and/or the plasma matting gas formed therefrom to the moving printing medium, upstream of the printing unit for printing the moving printing medium by the printing roller.

12. A method for manufacturing a printed matter, comprising:

a printing step of printing by attaching a recording composition to a surface of a printing medium, the recording composition having a property of being cured when brought into contact with a plasma modifying gas and/or a plasma matting gas formed from the plasma modifying gas;

and a drying step of bringing a stream of a plasma-modifying gas and/or a plasma-matting gas into contact with the surface of the printing medium to fix the recording composition present on the surface of the printing medium,

In a plasma generation chamber which communicates with a space through which the printing medium passes through via a plasma discharge port and is separated from the space, a plasma raw material gas is introduced into the plasma generation chamber from an inlet port different from the plasma discharge port, thereby forming a gas flow from the inlet port to the plasma discharge port, the gas flow is plasmatized in the plasma generation chamber, thereby generating a plasma modified gas, and the plasma modified gas is discharged from the plasma discharge port to the space through which the printing medium passes, thereby bringing the gas flow containing the plasma modified gas and/or a plasma matting gas formed therefrom into contact with the surface of the printing medium printed in the printing step.

13. The method of manufacturing a printed matter according to claim 12, wherein a space through which the printing medium passes is covered with a wall surface, the wall surface has an inlet opening and an outlet opening having a size necessary for the entrance and exit of the printing medium, and a gas flow containing the plasma modifying gas and/or the plasma matting gas flows in at least one direction of the inlet opening and the outlet opening.